cheeky
adj. B1 Intermediate US //ˈtʃiki// UK //tʃˈiːki// cheeky
adj. bold and slightly rude in a way that is funny or charming. You use it when someone breaks a small rule but does it with a smile.
adj. showing boldness or impudence in a way that is amusing rather than offensive. Informal register; typically used to describe behavior that playfully challenges authority or convention.
The cheeky child winked at the teacher.
Her cheeky comment about the boss's tie made everyone laugh.
The film's cheeky tone balances sharp social satire with lighthearted romance, avoiding heavy-handed moralizing.
From cheek + -y. Compare typologically barefaced, bald-faced; Italian sfacciato (< Latin ex- + faciēs); French effronté, Italian sfrontato (< Latin ex- + frons), Polish czelny (< czoło).